Secrets of RPG Adventure Design

Open Design is a way to publish original, professional D&D adventures while showing its patrons how the design work is done. The current project will be completed March 1. Patrons are being accepted until February 28.

What is Castle Shadowcrag?
It's a castle adventure written as a privately-commissioned work. Stuffed with playable material, it features the Plane of Shadow, a revolt against aristocrats, a family curse, and intense, original combats. The heroes explore a partially-looted and haunted castle, find a legacy weapon, and set things right. The adventure includes:

• 7 essays on design secrets
  
• new shadow spells, new monsters, and color art,
  
• professional maps of the complete castle and dungeons

Patronage As a Publishing Strategy
In the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, patrons commissioned artists and writers. There was no such thing as a "publisher". People who wanted books hired someone to write them. The Open Design approach applies that to RPG adventures.

And who are you, exactly?
My name is Wolfgang Baur. I've been professionally involved in the RPG field for over 15 years, starting at TSR and later as a full-time designer at Wizards of the Coast. I've designed Expedition to the Demonweb Pits, Frostburn, Dark*Matter, the Book of Roguish Luck, and many others.

I worked with China Miéville to translate his Perdido Street Station setting for Dragon #352. I've published 13 adventures with Dungeon magazine.

What do I get when I join?
You see the inside track, and get answers to your design questions. For a $25 donation, you get:

• The complete adventure delivered as a PDF, plus all updates and errata.
  
• Access to a large set of private posts discussing the design.
  
• Influence over the design from outline to final text.
  
• Detailed design essays on topics chosen by the patrons.
  
• An adventure not sold to the public!

Open Design provides an inside look at adventure design from the start to final production. These projects depend on your generosity, and provide something not available anywhere else: original adventures for a private audience. Please donate today!